warlike faculties of a nation will result in a disastrous ex-	J23
plosion. Nothing is less justified than such fears. On the
contrary, the development of military preparations has al-
ready given results positive and undeniable. For Poland
this has a certain value in the political market of Europe,
where the Polish question has been mercilessly excluded since
the failure of the insurrection of 1863. They have lost the
habit of taking us into consideration in their international
calculations and combinations. The development of our army
will put the Polish problem on the chessboard of Europe,
"It's importance seems to me so much greater from the
fact that, since the year 1904, we have looked on at a whole
series of disorders and conflicts where the decisive role has
been played by an armed force. In the balance of the destiny
of nations the sword alone counts today. A people who shut
their eyes to this truth compromise their future irremediably.
We ought not to be such a people. The initiators of the
military movement have pointed out to the country the road
to follow. But the final result will depend wholly on the
intensity of the collective effort, on the persevering and active
cooperation of all the nation,"
Then came two sentences that sound like prophecy:
"The problem of the independence of Poland will be defi-
nitely solved only when Russia shall be beaten by Germany
—and Germany by Prance. It is our duty to lend our help
to that aim; otherwise we shall have to pursue a very long
and almost desperate struggle."
At the end of June the heir to the Austrian throne
was assassinated at Sarajevo. Diplomats talked and
wrote memoranda. Ultimatum followed ultimatum. The
month of July PilsudsM spent near Krakow, giving a
course in military preparation. He shared the life in
the field, teaching the Strzelec members the handling of
arms, planning with the staff attacks which they carried
out against an imaginary enemy. When the course ended
they marched in review before the Commander. A small
force, to be sure, but with excellent morale.
There was feverish excitement among the Strzelec.
If war came, what should do the Poles do? Wait for a
manifesto from Vienna? No, argued Pilsudski, Poles
should take the initiative.
On the third of August he ordered three companies
of the Strzelec to mobilize, ready to march at any mo-